Skip to main content

Football Betting Fundamentals

Written by Pavel Kateliev
Pavel Kateliev is a popular sport journalist, particularly in the fields of football, basketball, tennis, and hockey. He writes daily for Sportingpedia and his work has been translated into at least 20 languages and featured on renowned outlets such as BBC, Yahoo, MCN, Sun, and Evening News, in Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
, | Updated: September 12, 2024

Football Betting FundamentalsThroughout the years, football has grown to become a prime sport when it comes to gambling. This is anything but surprising since it is extremely exhilarating, unforeseeable, and best of all, it grants some really nice returns to gambling enthusiasts. At present, football or soccer as it is known outside the United States, beats many of the other sports hollow, thus turning into a fan-favorite sport in almost all corners of the world. What is more, matchups from some of the key competitions are aired around the globe, thus giving punters the chance to keep an eye on the action.

The reasons why punters find football betting so enticing are aplenty, but one of the main causes for this remains that you do not need to be an expert in the field in order to receive a windfall prize. In addition to this, thanks to the sweeping changes in technologies which took place over the past few years, football devotees can wager on their favorite team irrespective of the time and the place. Still, football fans should bear in mind that there are certain things they are advised to take into account prior to getting started with online football betting. Having a proper knowledge about the sport itself and the different types of wagers is a must. Of course, choosing a decent web-based sportsbook along with money management are not less important.

Thus, provided that you want to ensure that the results you will enjoy down the road will be more fruitful, you will need more profound knowledge about the fundamentals of online football betting. That is the reason why you might find our article useful as it can help you lay the groundworks for becoming a successful football bettor.

Getting Started with Online Football Betting

Getting Started with Online Football BettingOne of the best things about wagering on football remains that it is not overly arduous, which makes it suitable for total rookies, as well as for accomplished gambling enthusiasts. Still, this does not mean that knowledge does not play a role at all when it comes to football betting. In essence, it is just the other way around simply because the more you know about the sport and its peculiarities, the easier it will be for you to make the right decisions.

Perhaps, one of the first things you should dedicate some time to is the history of the game. Despite the fact that this might seem to you as a waste of time, it is just the opposite as this will help you get a clearer picture of the sport and the current form in which we all know it. Other than that, learning more about the rules of the game is also essential as this will help you make informed judgments as well.

Besides, it is also advised to read more about the governing bodies such as FIFA, as well as to acquaint yourself with all the major teams. Needless to say, the next step is to improve your knowledge about all the major tournaments and leagues which are taking place on a global scale. Thus, it would be a good idea to read more about the FIFA World Cup, The UEFA Nations League, the UEFA European Champions League, and so on. Learning more about some of the top football players, as well as about the managers will also allow you to reap the rewards while making real-money bets on football.

The next step to becoming a successful football bettor is learning the different types of wagers. From a gambling perspective, one of the most alluring things about football betting remains that gambling enthusiasts can pick and choose between a real abundance of different wagers. Unlike some of the other sports which in large measure offer a limited number of betting opportunities, the picture is quite different when it comes to football betting. Still, this might turn out to be a double-edged sword due to the fact that on the one hand, you will be presented with very many chances to enjoy a payout, but on the other hand, you should be familiar with the peculiarities of every single bet type.

Soccer lovers are enabled to choose between a broad variety of wagers which allow them to bet on the full-time result. In essence, this remains one of the most straightforward manners of making stakes on soccer which further explains why it is so well-preferred. Punters are allowed to make bets such as double chance, draw no bet, correct score, and handicap. In addition to this, gamblers who are keen on wagering on football might be delighted to find out that proposition bets, parlays, future bets, and total goals, are only some of the options they can get to choose while betting on football.

Choosing which betting markets to focus on is also essential when you are making your first steps at online football betting. Now, since you are already familiar with the fact that presently, there are a great many leagues on which you can gamble, you should also decide which is the competition on which you are planning to keep an eye. It is important to note that wagering on too many markets would hardly be a good idea, and it might not turn out to be the most successful approach. Instead, it would be much better for you, and of course, much easier, to focus only on a smaller number of betting markets as thus, your gambling session is more likely to work like a dream.

The last thing you should also pay special attention to remain the key factors which can affect the outcome of the matchup. Soccer lovers should also invariably allow for the current form of the team, the schedules, the injuries, and so on. Even though you are still making your first steps at online football betting, you should be well aware that these factors should have a bearing on your judgments as well.

Choosing a Proper Virtual Bookie

Choosing a Proper Virtual BookieChoosing a proper virtual bookie for your real-money bets also remains one of the fundamentals to a fruitful football betting session. In fact, inexperienced gambling enthusiasts should be aware that there are several factors that should impact the decision-making as for the web-based bookie which best suits their preferences.

Supported Football Wagers

Choosing a proper interactive bookie is undoubtedly a step in the right direction if you wish to ensure that your betting session will come off in the best possible manner. Still, one of the first things you are advised to check while you are making up your mind whether this is the right gambling spot for you is the variety of soccer wagers. Despite the fact that at the moment, you do not have that much experience under your belt, we recommend establishing an account with bookies which boast an excellent coverage of the various football bets. The aim of this is to ensure that you will be given a sufficient number of options to select from, including some of the rather basic bet types which might be more adequate to you right now.

Safety and Security

Safety and SecurityAnother important thing you should undoubtedly watch out for is the safety and security levels the operator boasts. It is true to say that one of the biggest concerns football devotees might have during their betting session has to do with their security. Still, this is natural since they are handing out some of their personal and banking information to the operator. That is namely the reason why we recommend joining virtual bookies which have proven to be reliable and trustworthy. This is the best way to make sure that your funds and your personal data will be safe. Other than that, you will also be comfortable with making real-money bets, which will allow you to enjoy yourself for hours on end.

In this relation, we should note that one of the things that speak a lot in terms of the credibility of the bookie is its history. There is no doubt that currently, football lovers might end up at a loss while they are selecting an interactive bookie, considering the fact that new sportsbooks turn up almost every day. That is the reason why it is advised to give a go established sportsbooks the track records of which are readily available.

Supported Payment Services

Supported Payment ServicesThe variety of the banking solutions is also an essential aspect you should take into consideration. That is the reason why it is a good idea to go through the list of the supported banking methods the operator brings to the table. The fact that the bookie allows its patrons to select from a broad variety of payment services might also be considered a good sign. Thus, they will enjoy greater flexibility when they wish to make transactions from and to the virtual bookie they have signed up for an account. Other than that, football bettors should also check what is the speed at which withdrawals are carried out as the proper sportsbooks will not make you wait an eternity for your winnings to be credited.

Ease of Use

Ease of UseSince this article is aimed at gamblers who prefer to wager on football over the Internet, we should also mention that the bookies which boast ease of use are undoubtedly a better option. This comes as no surprise since as far as online football betting is concerned, the convenience the betting website offers is one of the most pre-eminent factors which should be considered. Thus, as long as the football betting site you have settled on allows you to make wagers and to manage your funds with ease, it is undoubtedly worth your while.

Promotional Incentives

Promotional IncentivesAnother thing which might have a bearing on your overall betting session are the bonuses and promotions the operator grants. What is more, this is yet another of the key things which should be taken into account while making your judgments.

Mobile Friendliness

Mobile FriendlinessThe mobile compatibility is yet another thing which makes proper sportsbooks stand out from the crowd. Currently, it is essential that the bookie provides a seamless betting action, no matter whether you are using your smartphone or tablet to gamble. In a similar vein, it would be a good idea if you gauge the virtual bookie on your own, and decide if it is worth its salt.

Customer Support

Customer SupportWhile making up their mind, football bettors should also pay special attention to the quality of the customer care the operator offers. This is essential due to the fact that thus, you can rest easy that even if you encounter any issues, the agents will come forward with the information you need. Other than that, proper interactive bookies also provide their patrons with multiple contact methods which is crucial as well.

Money Management

Money ManagementWhile discussing the football betting fundamentals, we should definitely pay more attention to money management as well. Gambling aficionados who are dead set on taking their betting session to the next level should undoubtedly take heed of the manner in which they will handle their funds, as well as of the way in which they will allocate them. In fact, bankroll management will not only help you extend the duration of your betting session, but will also help you make sure that you will not end up with an exhausted bankroll.

One of the first steps to successful bankroll management remains to choose a starting balance. It is important to note that the money you are intent on using for gambling purposes should be separate from the money intended for bills, for example. Perhaps, you have not pondered over this, but making the right decisions when you fret over the bills you should pay is out of the question. That is the reason why it is always a good idea to ensure that the funds you intend on using for gambling purposes are to be found in a separate place. In addition to this, football bettors should also ensure that they are comfortable with losing the amount of money they have set aside for gambling purposes.

Another essential aspect of money management remains to determine your own guidelines when it comes to bet sizing. Once you have made up your mind about the total amount you do not mind losing, the next thing you should do is to decide what is the maximum bet size you should stick to. In the event that you seek to become a winner over the long run, it is advised to try to achieve this goal steadily, and not in a hurry. Perhaps, now arises the question whether you should invariably stick to the amount you have determined at the beginning. The answer to this question is no as it would be a much better idea to wager as much as it lends itself to your style of play, and of course, your budget. In essence, it is advised to change your bet in accordance with the picks you have made, and the potential value you might enjoy.

The next thing we should shed some more light on is the reset of your sports betting account. This occurs when you have altered the betting limits you have set, when you have uploaded funds into your account, or when you have managed to accumulate some winnings. In other words, you need to stick to the limits you have set for a specific time, and after this simply to change them. Depending on their gambling activity, punters are advised to do this weekly or once per month. Thus, as long as you wager on football on a regular basis, it would be better if you do the reset more often, and if you wager once in a blue moon, making the reset once per month might best work for you.

To boot, if the goal you have set is to enjoy some really good results down the line, you should go out of your way in order to ingrain money management into your style of making real-money bets.

Mistakes to Avoid when Wagering on Football

Mistakes to Avoid when Wagering on FootballPerhaps, one of the most important things football bettors should not forget is that from time to time, they will get some of the things wrong, and this is inevitable. If you think that your betting session will go like a dream from the beginning, you need to know that your expectations are unrealistic. Despite the fact that mistakes are part of learning, gambling aficionados should endeavor to reduce them as much as they can. Here, we will elaborate on some of the most common mistakes gamblers make due to the fact that when you are aware of them, you will be less likely to make them too.

Managing your funds in an improper manner remains one of the mistakes gambling aficionados make more often than not. The good news is that you can easily ensure that you will avoid this mistake, provided that you have drawn up a budget, and you stick to it. Inexperienced gambling aficionados should keep in mind that money management is one of the most essential aspects of gambling as thus, they will not spend too much, chase the losses they have experienced, or lose money which in practice they do not have.

Having unrealistic expectations might also be quite detrimental to your overall betting experience. One of the most important things you should not forget about football betting is that gamblers lose. Many gambling aficionados start making real-money bets with the cast of mind that they will commence winning straight off. Winning while wagering on football is definitely not a picnic. In fact, it is just the other way around as it can be quite a challenging undertaking which does not simply require some basic knowledge about the sport. To boot, you should be prepared that you will not enjoy some bountiful results all the time.

Using the wrong betting site while making real-money bets on football turns out to be yet another common mistake gamblers make. There is no doubt that currently, more and more gambling enthusiasts start to make their bets over the Internet as thus, they enjoy greater convenience and flexibility. Still, joining the first interactive bookie you have stumbled upon would be a serious mistake. That is the reason why it is advised to entrust bookies which have already proven to be reliable and trustworthy as thus, you will be able to stay untroubled during your betting session.

Not comparing the odds and the lines is yet another thing you should avoid doing while wagering on football. That is why we recommend setting up accounts at several gambling sites due to the fact that in this way, punters will be able to figure out which bookie offers the most advantageous deals. Despite the fact that at first glance, this might seem to you as a tedious task, it is definitely worth your while as even the slightest difference in the odds might have a noticeable influence on the profit you may eventually enjoy.

A large number of the football bettors, especially the inexperienced once, tend to make too many wagers. It is true to say that a large number of the gamblers fail to wait for the right opportunities which might turn out to be a major problem as well. Instead, bettors stand a better chance to enjoy good results provided that they are selective. That is the reason why it would be better if you pick events for which you are more likely to make the right decisions.

»